Jewel
Cichlid(Hemichromis bimaculatus)

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Jewel
cichlids or Hemichromis
bimaculatus
belong to the family Cichlidae.
Jewel cichlids are commonly known as African cichlids
because that is their continent of origin. They are native to the
rivers, streams, creeks and lakes of west and northeast Africa. Jewels
are plentiful in the Nile, Zaire, and Niger Rivers. They live in a
variety of water conditions including stagnate lagoon waters.

Jewel Cichlids are not for amateur aquarists. Nor do they make good
community fish. They require fairly specific water conditions. They
fare well in water with a pH level of 7.5 and a temperature range
between 70-82 °F. Jewel cichlids are innately aggressive.
They
appear
to suffer from an extreme case of Alpha Male Syndrome. They will fight
other species for dominance over their territory.
They are best suite
for a mono-species aquarium.

There have been reported cases where Jewel cichlids have adapted to
a community environment. They are introduced when still quite young to
a well established tank. This procedure, however, is not recommended.
Even if they adapt to communal living, they are still voracious fin
nippers due to their instinct to feed on other fish in the wild.

Even in mono-species environments they are an active species to the
point of being destructive. They have a tendency to dig up both plants
and substrate.

Jewel cichlids reach four to six inches long as adults and have a life
span of up to eight years.

Jewel cichlids
are omnivores. They will eat common variety tropical
fish foods. It is a good idea to supplement their diet with some form
of protein whether freeze-dried, frozen or live to help insure they are
less likely to develop a taste for their tank-mates fins.

The Male is more brightly colored than the female. Jewel cichlids
are monogamous by nature. Once they choose a mate that is it. This is
not at all a trait common to most fish.

Breeding
Jewel Cichlids

If you hope to spawn them
provide them with
plenty of hiding
places. Rocks and caves are probably best due to their tendency to dig
up plants. Once they pair up they should be removed to a breeding tank
with adequate hiding places. You will know spawning is about to take
place when they start to clean a flat surface to deposit their eggs on.

Both males and
females have advanced parental instincts. They will
guard the eggs until they are hatched and then participate in raising
the fry. The parents will continue to tend to the fry until they are
about half an inch long. They will even make a nest of sorts by digging
a hole in the substrate to deposit the fry into. Make sure the parents
are done parenting their offspring before removing them from the
breeding tank.

Freshly
hatched fry can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp, liquid
or solid fry food. Powdered eggs can also be used as a suitable
alternative to store bought food. Do not add too much at a time to
avoid fowling up the water.